Hitch Setup

[ggopher]

Can you please critique my hitch setup.

I have a 2016 Rockwood 192HW. Tow vehicle is 2013 Toyota Venza V6. Husky Center Line TS weight distribution hitch.

The black hitch piece drags on my driveway. Can I add a skid roller? Adjust the height? Am I overloaded?

Thanks!

[cmysstailights]

Dont think your over loaded, your sitting just about level. Problem is ur car sits low. Go to a machine shop and have them cut off the excess to make it shorter.

[KRSmitty]

When all said and done...everything should be level/even. The front and back of your Rockwood should be the same height from the ground to the bottom of your RV. Same with your TV. Front and rear of your TV should be the same height from the ground to the top of the wheel well.

Could be the picture, but it looks like your RV is lower in the front than the back?

Is the rear of your TV sagging in the rear?

[ggopher]

Everything was installed by the dealer. But they were not very helpful. And never measure my vehicle before.

Turns out the black piece (shank) can be inverted for low vehicles.

Yes my TV is sagging a bit. Not sure if this change will help that problem.

[Scrapper]

I agree with KRSmitty. You don't need to cut anything off as cmysstaillights suggests. To get extra ground clearance disassemble the shank and hitch head, flip the shank over into the UP position and reassemble. Be sure to get the bolts torqued to the proper specs when you tighten everything.

Your photo of the installation document shows what I talking about in the first image.

[raspivey]

Originally Posted by ggopher

Everything was installed by the dealer. But they were not very helpful. And never measure my vehicle before.

Turns out the black piece (shank) can be inverted for low vehicles.

Yes my TV is sagging a bit. Not sure if this change will help that problem.

Attachment 161169

The problem with that is, just from looking at the photo, if you invert it the hitch head will come up around 3 inches or so. That could possibly put it nose high on the trailer which could lead to sway issues if not careful.

[aeblank]

He can move the head up without inverting, which would be less than 3".

I would adjust the bars tighter (adjusting the brackets on the trailer up a hole)...
Could tip the head down, which also makes the bars tighter. That lifts the squat out some.

Careful though, when I had my hitch per the book (2306 on a 3/4 ton truck), I didn't like the feel. I loosened my bars a link (chain type) and it is better. I need to adjust the head a bit so it's not a full link looser, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Some squat is fine, if it tows right. Without experience though, knowing what "right" is can be difficult.

I'd have no issue hacksawing off the extra drop on the hitch once it's dialed in. Just know someday you may need a new drop....

[raspivey]

Originally Posted by aeblank

He can move the head up without inverting, which would be less than 3".

I would adjust the bars tighter (adjusting the brackets on the trailer up a hole)...
Could tip the head down, which also makes the bars tighter. That lifts the squat out some.

Careful though, when I had my hitch per the book (2306 on a 3/4 ton truck), I didn't like the feel. I loosened my bars a link (chain type) and it is better. I need to adjust the head a bit so it's not a full link looser, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Some squat is fine, if it tows right. Without experience though, knowing what "right" is can be difficult.

I'd have no issue hacksawing off the extra drop on the hitch once it's dialed in. Just know someday you may need a new drop....

I agree. I just wanted to point out that flipping the shank to clear the driveway probably won’t work.

[Scrapper]

By looking at his pics it's the shank that is dragging. If he flips the hitch shank he will gain 1-1/2 to 2 inches of ground clearance. He may have to use the bottom 2 holes for the hitch head to get it back to level.

I suggest you download and print the following document so you have it on hand whenever you need it. Keep a copy in the TV glovebox or in your trailer. It might be smart to have a copy in both in case one gets damaged or lost.
http://www.huskytow.com/wp-includes/pdfs/Literature//32215,%2032216,%2032217,%2032218,%2033039%20&%2033 092%20Instructions.pdf

I know many people think that having the document on a smartphone is the way to go, but I find it easier if I have a hard copy. That way I can go back and read something I may have trouble with. And some campgrounds don't have good cell access.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by aeblank

He can move the head up without inverting, which would be less than 3".

I would adjust the bars tighter (adjusting the brackets on the trailer up a hole)...
Could tip the head down, which also makes the bars tighter. That lifts the squat out some.

Careful though, when I had my hitch per the book (2306 on a 3/4 ton truck), I didn't like the feel. I loosened my bars a link (chain type) and it is better. I need to adjust the head a bit so it's not a full link looser, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Some squat is fine, if it tows right. Without experience though, knowing what "right" is can be difficult.

I'd have no issue hacksawing off the extra drop on the hitch once it's dialed in. Just know someday you may need a new drop....

If you look close the shank is installed with the longest part down. If he flips the shank then the shortest part will be downward. Also looking closely you will see that it is the shank that is dragging on the ground and not the head.

[aeblank]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

If you look close the shank is installed with the longest part down. If he flips the shank then the shortest part will be downward. Also looking closely you will see that it is the shank that is dragging on the ground and not the head.

Sure, but he's got some droop/nose down going on too. Someone claimed 3" rise to flip it, which may be too much. That claim may not be true, either. Regardless, some adjustments seem in order.

[raspivey]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

He may have to use the bottom 2 holes for the hitch head to get it back to level.

He's out of holes at that point. When flipped, his bottom head bolt will have to go where the top one is currently.

Originally Posted by aeblank

Sure, but he's got some droop/nose down going on too. Someone claimed 3" rise to flip it, which may be too much. That claim may not be true, either. Regardless, some adjustments seem in order.

My comment above is why I said about three inches higher (about the distance between the head bolts). It may or may not wind up in an acceptable height..depending on how nose down it is now. But yes, you're right, I'd start over and remeasure everything and make sure it's right anyway. One thing I can say for sure is that the bar angle and brackets are off. They should be closer to parallel to the frame when loaded (but never pointed upwards).

[ggopher]

Thanks for all the tips. Sounds like I have a winter project. Going to go to the weigh scale and check all the measurements. I will keep you posted.

[rsdata]

maybe add air lift spring to minimize rear end sag...

https://www.airliftcompany.com/

[guardingliberty]

Originally Posted by ggopher

Can you please critique my hitch setup.

I have a 2016 Rockwood 192HW. Tow vehicle is 2013 Toyota Venza V6. Husky Center Line TS weight distribution hitch.

The black hitch piece drags on my driveway. Can I add a skid roller? Adjust the height? Am I overloaded?

Thanks!Attachment 161163Attachment 161164Attachment 161165

I have the same car. The weight distribution hitch is a upper design. It has sway tightening control if needed. The car is a low rider. Works great.

[ggopher]

Thanks for example on the same vehicle. That looks much better. I will try flipping the shank to the UP position. But will be sure to get all the proper measurements.

[D-mo]

great info....
dmo

[rockfordroo]

Quick-and-dirty instructions:

With the TT unhitched, use the tongue jack to level the trailer. Then measure the height of the coupler on the TT. That's how high your ball needs to be on your Venza BEFORE you put the TT on it.

Then, measure the height of the front and rear wheel wells of the Venza.

Now put the TT on the Venza. The rear will sag and the front will rise. Now adjust your hitch bars to raise the rear and drop the front. You want to get to within about 1/2" of the non-loaded measurements.

You may need to play with removing/adding washers.

Here's the manual.

[guardingliberty]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Quick-and-dirty instructions:



With the TT unhitched, use the tongue jack to level the trailer. Then measure the height of the coupler on the TT. That's how high your ball needs to be on your Venza BEFORE you put the TT on it.



Then, measure the height of the front and rear wheel wells of the Venza.



Now put the TT on the Venza. The rear will sag and the front will rise. Now adjust your hitch bars to raise the rear and drop the front. You want to get to within about 1/2" of the non-loaded measurements.



You may need to play with removing/adding washers.



Here's the manual.

That’s it! Thanks